At Keiki Early Learning, we firmly believe that the environment is the ‘third’ teacher (with the family and educators being the first and second). The physical environment should not be a backdrop to the curriculum but rather is part of the program.
Learning through Nature
Our indoor and outdoor environments are safe and protected and children are given the opportunity to develop at their own rate and in their own time. We offer ‘real’ opportunities for learning and development where children can discover and create through constructive play.
Our beautiful childcare centre gardens are carefully designed around nature play principles, incorporating natural materials amongst climbing structures that provide opportunities for a level of controlled risk-taking. With features such as wooden play equipment, rocks and sand, recycled materials and built-in sensory gardens, the outdoors is a place where children are encouraged to investigate, explore and learn at their own pace. We believe outdoor activity is essential for growing children and we incorporate the outdoors in learning, play, eating and even sleeping wherever possible.
Indoors, wooden and natural materials have been used throughout to create a calming and warm environment. Your child will find the environments attractive, engaging and interesting, with many resources to interact with, see and touch. It is designed to provide countless opportunities for open-ended play to suit different abilities and interests.
Sustainability
At Keiki Early Learning, we incorporate sustainable practices in everything we do through our Eco Learning Program. Children are encouraged to learn about, respect and contribute to the world we live in through daily tasks such as watering the gardens, looking after the worm farm, and water conservation. Children learn about gardening and pick fresh herbs for their meals in our veggie gardens. We incorporate learning about recycling in our curriculum throughout the year and share conversations and topics such as sustainability through our talking and thinking floor books.
Our natural play spaces are full of loose parts, natural resources and messy play opportunities. We want children to connect with nature and learn about sustainability, so children will often use recycled products or even ‘up-cycled’ materials and resources in their everyday play. Throughout the services, we also carefully select a range of pre-loved furniture pieces that are restored and repurposed for the next generation to enjoy.
Shared Spaces
Many of our services incorporate shared spaces, such as Community Libraries, central dining piazzas and art studios. Central dining spaces and piazzas encourage progressive mealtimes, allowing children to eat when they are hungry and enjoy the social ritual of nourishing their bodies. Creative hubs and art studios are equipped with easels, paints, drawing materials, clay, wire, collage objects and a multitude of natural and recycled materials, allowing every child’s inner artist to emerge!
Our community libraries are a free resource for our families, enabling them to borrow age-appropriate books to read at home. Children that are read to more often have improved language and listening skills, experience stronger emotional connections to their loved ones, and gain a lifelong love of reading. Our goal is to ensure every child within our services has the opportunity to enjoy and embrace the magic of books!
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